Victoria Labor Conference to Consider Apprenticeships and Cannabis Decriminalization

Officials will use the final state Labor conference before the election to announce a plan for a government-owned electricity body to hire electrical apprentices. The plan aims to address workforce shortages and marks the first time since the State Electricity Commission was privatized 30 years ago that the government has employed such apprentices.

The announcement will reference the experience of linesmen at the State Electricity Commission, which was revived after being privatized in the 1990s. The program will offer 2,000 apprenticeships at the revived commission as part of a pre-election push.

The conference will also consider a proposal to decriminalize cannabis. The measures are scheduled for discussion at the event, which serves as the last major gathering before the election.